Tag: BOE

Comsewogue BOE Adopts Resolution to Oppose Betsy DeVos

Last night, at their regularly scheduled meeting, the Comsewogue Board of Education unanimously adopted the resolution below.  We thank them for their advocacy for our students and the broader public education world.

Whereas, the Board of Education of the Comsewogue Union Free School District has been elected by the residents of the Comsewogue Union Free School District to determine policy and approve programming for the students of the district, within the confines of both federal and state statutes governing education, and

 

Whereas, this Board of Education, on many occasions, has expressed its displeasure with the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act, as well as the implementation of the Common Core and Annual Professional Performance Review and the high stakes testing which accompany these mandates, and

 

Whereas, the Board of Education envisions the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United States, on January 20, 2017, as an opportunity for a renewal and re-visioning of public education in the United States of America in a way which creates opportunities for students of all ages to learn in a way which is beneficial and in a way which recognizes the whole student, and

 

Whereas, the Board of Education wants all of our students, regardless of ability, background, race, or gender, to feel secure, focusing on the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and relational growth of our students, and

 

Whereas, President-Elect Trump has called for the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education of the United States, a candidate apparently lacking any credentials as an educator, experience in the administration and management of public schools, demonstrating a pre-disposition towards and long-history of support for charter schools and school voucher programs, which by their very nature eviscerate free and appropriate public education for specific economic, social and racial groups, and

 

Whereas, Ms. DeVos has been at the forefront of the establishment of the Detroit charter school initiative, by all accounts an abject failure which hurt students and enriched the coffers of private companies, therefore be it

 

Resolved, that the Comsewogue Board of Education hereby, based on this record, opposes the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, and until such time as the incoming Trump administration presents a formal vision for the future of public education in the United States of America

 

and will continue to oppose such a nomination, and calls upon the incoming United States Senate to stand firm by opposing this nominee and affirming this serious need, and be it further

 

Resolved, that the Board of Education invites the president-elect, the nominee for secretary of education or representatives of the incoming education team to meet with them to conduct a forthright and meaningful discussion about the future of public education and their strategies to affect the necessary changes.

Endorsed Candidates for School Board Elections

You can click here to access the list of school board candidates who have been endorsed by the teacher union locals in those districts.  This includes every local on Long Island who has shared their endorsements with us.

Additionally you can click here to see the candidates who have been endorsed by Long Island Opt-Out.

News, Notes, and Links

A big week coming up PJSTA!

First, we will need volunteers to put up “Vote YES” signs tomorrow, as well as volunteers who can head to the phone banks after school at the NYSUT Regional Office in Hauppauge.

On Tuesday every member of the PJSTA needs to get to the polls in their home school districts and VOTE YES for their school budgets.  If you need to know who are the candidates being endorsed by your district’s teachers union local contact Beth Dimino or myself at wogteacher@gmail.com and we will happily provide you with that.

If you live in Comsewogue the PJSTA encourages you to vote for incumbents Alexandra Gordon and James Sanchez along with newcomer (though a gentleman who has been incredibly active in our school community for years) Rick Rennard.  Gordon and Sanchez have worked tirelessly to defend public education in the Comsewogue School District and have shown a willingness to work cooperatively with the PJSTA as we fight passionately together for the students that we serve.  Mr. Rennard is no stranger to anybody who regularly attends school board meetings or rallies in support of public education!  They represent the voices that Comsewogue needs to continue advocating for our community!

On Wednesday is the latest and greatest rally and opportunity to show Governor Cuomo and the rest of the state’s Democratic elected officials that we will “Remember in November!”  If you go to one event per year, this is the one to be at!  If you go to every other event throughout the year, you don’t want to miss this one!  The importance of this event cannot be overstated.  Bring your kids, your spouses, and who ever else you need to.  Quite possibly it is the most important event of many of our careers.

Finally we want to thank Beth Dimino, Maurizio Milana, Sue Niver, Rob Pearl, and Brian St. Pierre for attending Saturday’s “Take Back Our Schools” rally in Manhattan, which the PJSTA helped organize.  Organizers estimated a crowd of 750+ people who turned out to stand up for public education.  Groups from Long Island, New York City, New Jersey, and other parts of New York State joined together for the event.  Enjoy the pictures below…

A Must Read Article, Opting Out, BOE Candidates, Karen Lewis

A MUST READ article on the Democratic Party, how they have embraced neoliberal education reforms, and the impact of the Chicago Teachers Union on this.

If any of our members are parents who wish to have their own children OPT-OUT of standardized testing this year, this link may help you.

If any of our members are interested in running for their home school district’s BOE, please see us… we can help you.

Finally, the CTU’s Karen Lewis speaking in Manhattan this weekend…

NYCORE Conference 2013 – Karen Lewis Keynote from Grassroots Education Movement on Vimeo.